What's next for Apex?

9/10/2013

What's next for Apex?

PAWTUCKET - With the Pawtucket River Bridge and its light system now completed, said city officials at a lighting ceremony last Saturday, all eyes are now firmly locked on the landmark Apex property as the "cornerstone" of future riverfront redevelopment efforts.

Little at Apex has changed since the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters cleared out and moved to Cranston three years ago, but representatives for owner Andrew Gates say they're hopeful that development of the mixed-use "Riverfront Commons" is just around the corner.

Dylan Zelazo, spokesman for Mayor Don Grebien's administration, said "there are definitely some discussions going on" to finally bring in an anchor tenant to move into the old DMV space next to the downsized Apex department store.

A number of developers remain interested in the property, said Zelazo, and "everything's on the table" here, from big-box retailers to institutions of higher education.

"Hopefully in the fall we'll have more details," he said.

Elizabeth Pella, of Apex, said company officials "have made progress with the city" on permitting for the property, but to date there are no firm answers on what's next for the property, though Apex officials continue to market the property to potential anchor tenants. Gates has said that once the anchor tenant is secured, smaller complementary tenants will be easier to land.